Hat-blocking apparatus.



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PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

L PLIOKER A HAT BLOCKING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT 23,1907

. IA-ml LOUIS FLIOKER, OF LOS' ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

HAT-BLOCKING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908 Application filed September 23, 1907. Serial No. 394,060.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS FLIOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hat-Blocking Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

I-Ieretofore in the renewing of worn out and broken hats the whole hat, including the brim, has been softened by heating and by steaming so that the brim had to be reshaped to the wearers head. In the majority of cases it is not necessary or desirable to re-shape the brim as it is usually the crown which becomes worn out.

The object of my invention is to provide a device with which the crown of a hat may be heated and steamed without softening the brim thereof so that the crown may be reblocked without the necessity of re-shaping the brim to fit the wearers head.

A further object is to provide means whereby the steam which comes in contact with the crown is rendered dry so that the crown does not become permeated with moisture.

I accomplish these objects by means of the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1,is a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2,is an en larged detail section of the hat steaming receptacle. Fig. 3,is a plan view of the same with the inner fabric lining removed.

Referring to the drawings 5 designates a steam boiler preferably supported on a stand or legs 6 and adapted to be heated by a gas burner '7 controlled by valve 8. Boiler 5 is provided with a water-gage 9 and a blow off 10 of usual construction. A spraying nozzle 11 is provided which is similar in construction and operation to the one described in my Patent No. 856,458, dated June 11, 1907, and entitled Steam generator for setting, shaping and renovating hats. Boiler 5 is further provided with an elliptical top 12 on which the work of re-shaping the brims of hats is performed and for heating the same prior to and during the reshaping operation.

On the side of boiler 5 opposite sprayer 11 is a hat steaming receptacle 13 preferably oval in plan which is connected by pipe 14 to boiler 5, the passage of steam therethrough being controlled by valve 15 directly under receptacle 13. The receptacle is provided with a conical bottom 16 into the center of which pipe 17 leading from valve 15 is placed, v the pipe being provided with a U shaped fit condensed particles of steam and allow the same to fall downwardly to the bottom of the receptacle without comin in contact with the hat placed therein. l3y removing the U shaped fitting the receptacle may be used as a funnel for filling the boiler.

When in position in the receptacle the brim of a hat hangs over the rim of the receptacle as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. From this figure it will be noted that the crown of the hat is in a position to be thoroughly heated and steamed by the vapor emerging from inverted U shaped fitting 18, while the brim of the hat is entirely protected from being heated by the same. Thus it will be manifest that the brim will retain its original shape while the crown will be rendered pliable so that the same may be shaped to any desired configuration.

' From the fore oing description it will be observed that I have provided means whereby the crowns of hats may be thoroughly renovated without the necessity of softening the brims and subsequently reshaping the same. This is especially desirable in both Panama straw and felt hats as it is usually the crown which becomes broken and un-shaped while the brim remains in good condition.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a steam boiler; an elliptical receptacle connected to said boiler, the top of said receptacle being open; an inner fabric lining for the lat eral walls of said receptacle; and a tube adapted to lead off the water of condensation from the receptacle.

2. In a device of the class described,-a steam boiler a spraying nozzle connected with said steam boiler; an elliptical receptacle connected to said boiler, the top of said receptacle being open and adapted to receive the crown of a hat; an inner fabric lining for said receptacle adapted to lead the condensed steam to the bottom of the same; and a tube adapted to lead the Water of condensation from the receptacle.

31 In a device of the class described, a receptacle with an open top adapted to re ceive the crown of a hat; an inner fabric lining for the side Walls of said receptacle; and means to supply steam to said receptacle.

4. In a device of the class described, a receptacle of horizontal elliptical cross-section with an open top; an inner fabric lining forthe elliptical Walls of said receptacle; a steam inlet discharging into said receptacle against 15 the bottom thereof; and a drainage outlet in the bottom of saidreceptacle.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of September, 1907.

LOUIS FLICKER.

Witnesses:

TRIMBLE BARKELEW, OLLIE PALMER. 

